The concept of 'zero waste', as advanced by Earthwatch, is not grounded in reality and does not provide the answer to Ireland's waste-management problems, argues Donal Buckley.
The case made by Tom Prendeville of Earthwatch in his article on Tuesday - "Ending the throwaway mentality can be good for business" - was an interesting contribution to the debate on waste-management in this country. However, his central argument for a "zero waste" system is simply not grounded in reality.
Zero waste is certainly an aspirational goal which we must all work towards. However, it is certainly not the silver bullet to solving Ireland's waste-management problems. Waste in itself is not a homogenous material, therefore its effective management requires a diverse range of measures rather than a homogenous solution.
At present, every local authority in the country has adopted a plan for managing non-hazardous waste either within its own county or as part of a regional strategy. The Environmental Protection Agency has published a national plan on the management of hazardous waste.
The plans and the legislation reflect national and EU policy. This policy is based on the "polluter pays" principle and the waste-management hierarchy.
Prevention and minimisation of waste at source, using eco-design or clean technology, are the most favoured options in this management hierarchy, followed by re-use, recycling and energy recovery. Disposal is the least desirable option.
This approach recognises the accepted reality that effective waste-management requires several targeted solutions that depend on the source, type and volume of waste involved.
Simply dismissing a universally-accepted approach to waste-management as "recycle what you can and pay us to burn the rest" is extremely short-sighted and dangerously ignores the issue of residual waste treatment. Generally, some residual waste will always be generated in certain processes, industrial or otherwise.
The zero-waste philosophy totally ignores this residual waste and suggests that waste will simply cease to exist if we recycle it all. As anyone who is working in the environmental business knows, certain materials can only be recycled a finite number of times before their usefulness is downgraded and they eventually become waste that must be dealt with.
Contrary to the zero-waste philosophy, IBEC provides practical guidance on prevention and minimisation of waste, which is more environmentally beneficial and cost-effective than simply concentrating on recycling.
Business is well aware of the environmental and economic benefits of recycling. In fact, the recycling rate for domestic waste is 7 per cent, whereas the recovery rate for industry is in excess of 50 per cent
Specifically in the area of packaging waste, Irish business has set up an industry-driven recycling body, and last year this was responsible for recycling over 200,000 tonnes of packaging waste. This body has funded collection scheme bottle banks and bring centres and has undertaken education initiatives on recycling.
Similar industry take-back schemes are expected for end-of-life vehicles and waste electrical and electronic equipment.
IBEC recognises that, following prevention and minimisation, there will be residual waste which must be dealt with in an environmentally-responsible manner.
Disposal costs for waste in Ireland are on average €100 per tonne. Industry is certainly well aware of the financial need to move towards waste-prevention. However, it is incorrect to suggest that industry is subsidised to produce waste, as this financial burden is placed squarely on business, as is the recent landfill levy of €15 per tonne of waste.
The money collected from industry from this levy will be used to fund waste-management initiatives. In other words, industry is subsidising waste management in this country.
A zero-waste approach wishes away the waste-management problem and does not face up to the real challenges at hand. Business has decided to grasp the nettle and implement integrated practical solutions. All elements of society have a role in wast-management. Industry is committed to playing its part.
Donal Buckley is head of the IBEC Environment Unit